Yes I have seen this before. First, turn on SQL Net tracing in the
sqlnet.ora file. Second, was the database link created on the server where
the database resides, or via the client? What version of Oracle are you
using? Also when you use the service name to connect, is it from a client ?
The database link from one database to another means that the parts
necessary for name resolution will need to be on the server where the
database link resides. This means that the hosts file needs to have the
server name and IP address of the target database server in it, or the
server is using some other name resolution like DNS. The database link
needs to be resolved from the server where the database link resides in the
database. Sure you can connect from a client.

Has anyone had trouble using a link created for just certain databases,
when
everything is set right. In other words, no reason can be seen why it
wouldn't work? We changed the global name, etc., etc. I can connect to the
database but when I create the link, then try to select from dual from
another database, it says "TNSNames cannot resolve service name". But using
the same service name, I immediately connect successfully to the database!

Driving us crazy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

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